GCC Friends, cycle tourists, and lovers of multi-use trails,

River of Grass Greenway

The River of Grass Greenway was awarded $1 million to plan and develop a non-motorized transportation and recreation corridor across the Everglades. The pathway will connect this unique natural resource with the densely populated east and west coasts of southern Florida, including Collier and Miami-Dade counties. The River of Grass Greenway will provide multiple-use recreational access to a variety of public lands, including Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Parallel to the Tamiami Trail (US. 41), the ROGG will be a hard-surfaced 12-14 foot wide corridor (separated from the highway) suitable for a range of non-motorized recreation activities such as bicycling, walking, bird-watching, photography, fishing, and general enjoyment of the greater Everglades natural area.

The goal of the ROGG is to extend from Krome Avenue (eastern edge of Everglades National Park near Miami) to the outskirts of Naples/Marco Island (western terminus to be determined). In the middle, there will be a three mile spur to Everglades City.

Over 90% of the pathway will go through national and state parks, and will include spurs to nearby historic and cultural centers including Everglades City and the Miccosukee Indian Village. Parks include Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Collier

-Seminole State Park, and Picayune Strand State Forest.

This trail would provide car-free access to public lands we all own and have the right to use. Over 90% of the proposed route would be built on public property.

Public comment is being sought by Miami-Dade County government regarding this project that essentially provides a multi-use trail that parallels a busy already-existing high-speed road, US 41.

Please submit your comments and questions about the project to Mark Heinicke at mheinic@miamidade.gov ASAP!

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS JULY 1ST.

The most current revision of the project proposal can be found here. (Be warned, it's 268 pages long)! A nice summary of the proposed project and the many groups and organizations who support it can be found in this Fact Sheet. Supporters include Adventure Cycling Association, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Bike-Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Miami-Dade), Everglades Bicycle Club, Everglades National Park, and local chambers of commerce, county commissions, and parks & recreation departments, to name a few.

Many thanks,

-Ally